NBR first linked Mr Manning and Singapore based Nico-Franken, to the project in June. Mr Manning confirms the deal this week, which sees his company HGW International take a 50% stake in the casino developer One Hundred Sands and Mr Manning and Norwich Properties general manager Brad Worthington join the board.

The Casino Project involves two sites – near Nadi and Suva – with the former site featuring 250 slot machines, 40 tables, a 1500 seat convention centre, a Hotel with up to 600 rooms, bars and restaurants.

A development site near Denarau Island should be confirmed next month. “We’ll be building in the first quarter of next year quite easily.” he says.

Mr Manning will not say where his syndicate investors are based, or how many there are, and is coy about his own financial involvement in the project.

He’s confident a deal can be struck with Fiji’s government over $US100,000 monthly penalty payments.”